50+ Walking Group’s Windy Gyle trek

Published:08:00Thursday 25 June 2015

Share this article

On the longest day of the year, 11 members left Hawick and headed for Windy Gyle up the Bowmont Water. Starting at Cocklawfoot, they made their way up the old cross-border track and drovers’ road, Clennell Street. About halfway up, the rain began to get really heavy with hailstones, too.

When it faired, lunch was taken, with rolls quickly eaten before the next downpour. In the distance on the top of Windy Gyle, figures could be seen. And it turned out that it was the army on a route march. On arrival at the top, the soldiers were found to be from Belgium and most of them spoke good English. After a few photos were taken, it was time to drag the ladies away. The Hawick rugby coach would have been interested in some of the soldiers as recruits for the Greens.

There was no let-up in the weather and the walkers descended Windy Rig, diverting from the track to visit the crash site of a Hudson aircraft which came down in 1940, killing the four crew. With the rain still falling, everyone was thankful to get back to the cars, passing Kelsocleuch on the way down.